03x07 - Graceland

[bunniefuu]

Previously on "Dance Academy"...

Third years, I want to introduce Wes Cooper.

Not only is he part of the brat pack of apprentice choreographers in Europe, he's traded a Spanish summer working with Impresion to create a piece for your tour.

We will tear up regional Australia.

I need you as my wing man.

Tara, I want you learning this.

I'm sorry? You're understudying Juliet.

Who's understudying Romeo?

I've never chorried a film before.

Can I guess the storyline - bad boy meets ballet princess?

I'm not auditioning. Keep reading the lead.

You're doing well with her.

Once upon a time, some boys and girls set out on a big adventure.

Every night, they performed in all the theatres across the land.

For awhile, the tour was fairly predictable.

There was pretty dancing... there was academy politics...

the usual who likes who, blah, blah, blah.

Then something magical happened.

The further they travelled from home, the more these girls and boys began to change...

Viva le tour! Viva le tour!

To reinvent themselves...

until the old rules didn't matter anymore.

Viva le tour! Viva le tour!

The open road had united them, as open roads are wont to do.

For the first time, one little girl had found the place to call her home.

I remember the heady freedom of tour, and I want you guys to have fun, but that was an insult to us and to the audience.

Until you guys can start acting like professionals, all parts are officially up for grabs.

Any more slip-ups, on or off stage, you will be recast.

He's bluffing.

That's it. Stop the bus.

Maybe he's not bluffing.

Welcome to Balangurrk, home of the Great Dawn Challenge and sacred Academy tradition. A tradition I'm banning.

Don't stress, Zach. I'll keep the kids in line.

It's a nudie run, right? The Dawn Challenge is more.

It requires cunning, skill.

Which is why you got sprung last year.

Precious memories. Are there always this many flies?

We should grab some time to go over the pas de deux.

We're understudies. I already know Juliet.

Ben and I rehearsed it.

It won't be useful if I get bumped up to Romeo.

The '80s plot sounds so lame. It will hardly be centre stage.

You're extras. You don't eat until everyone else has.

First talent, then crew, then you. Got it?

I haven't eaten a thing, so...

You're talent. You're allowed to eat.

You realise I've been looking for you? I wasn't sure...

I'm Jamie. I'm the third AD. Questions, problems, anything - come to me first. Great.

I'd love a coconut water.

What's your 20? We're travelling.

The whereabouts of the lead actors is your responsibility.

That didn't teach you that at film school?

Sorry. It's not your fault, darling.

We have a visual scene for you to start with.

What I'd like you to do is enter through the door, cross to the bar, throw down your bag and put your hair up. OK.

That's important. Do you want to give it a go? Yeah.

Action.

There it is. We have a natural.

Really? We should have sh*t the rehearsal.

It's the morning after you caught Paul breaking into the studio, so you're rattled, OK? Rattled. Can do.

Cut.

It's looking good.

Action.

I forgot my bag. Cut.

Mark it. Action.

Cut!

Sorry.

We emailed the confirmation.

Fully booked, I'm afraid.

We come at this time every year. Oh, I know. Dawn Challenge 1993.

You don't forget glutes like that.

You fancy-pants ballet types waltz in here, causing all sorts of trouble.

Hi. Barb? Grace Whitney, Prix de Fonteyn ambassador.

I'm sorry - how big is that trout?

Grace...

I'm more of a spinner fisherwoman myself.

I've never caught anything of that calibre.

You loved the bugs, hiking through Cantabria.

Were you pretending to have fun?

No, I'm having fun now.

If you weren't here, it would be the time of my life.

I bet you are the president of the local fishing society.

Some call me the Fish Whisperer.

It feels wrong. Romeo is Ben's role.

Miss Pie Chart, this is a turnaround.

You're always on at me about trying.

Now here I am, abandoned.

That was a long time ago.

You don't want to help me get into the company?

You're putting your boyfriend above one of your oldest friends.

Friends? How many calls did you ignore over the holidays?

I spent months worried about you, and when I found you, the door was slammed in my face, so let's not pretend we're friends.

I promise - every word, every comma, committed to memory.

Great. Rhys has asked if we can keep it loose, play around with it. OK? Sure.

Slate 12, take 1. Mark it.

Camera set. And action.

Wait, you don't actually dance, do you?

Or you actually do dance?

You think you know who I am?

We've lived in the same town our entire lives, and you haven't said one word to me since kindergarten.

I haven't?

Why would the princess of Gladdy High deign to talk to the weird kid with the dead brother?

Yeah, I'm a freak. And I dance.

So deal with it, Tamsin.

I am so sorry. I'm sorry!

It's all good. Cut.

Alright, dare.

The blister below your ingrown toenail looks yummy.

Zach is serious about the role swapping.

All of you, out.

Grace, you rule tour parties.

Plus, your room is furthest from Zach's.

Don't. That is disgusting.

You guys aren't as quiet as you think you are.

Is he being teacher again? Adult.

What are these juvenile shenanigans anyway?

Abigail, truth, dare or... Pash.

Mm! Good kisser, Tara. I enjoyed that. Who's up for fun?

I wrapped you two hours ago. You're not getting overtime.

I have to dance and act tomorrow.

It would be bad for my self-esteem if I sucked at both.

Yeah, we wouldn't want that.

From an assistant director, I'm not feeling a lot of assistance.

You want me to tell you the Oscar's in the bag?

You've been given the lead because you're pretty and you can dance a bit.

So...

My short film won People's Choice award at Tropfest, now I'm taking the flak when non-actors are too dumb to turn their phones off.

I wouldn't be complaining.

Ben, stop! Call truth.

Let the man alone. Christian dared him. He has to.

T-Web, the Benster does not wimp.

Pash.

Yes!

OK.

Pash.

Well, aren't I Miss Popular!

OK, I haven't had a go in ages.

Finally! You are so dead.

That's cheating.

If you're not playing by the rules, I'm going to bed.

Hide!

Just a minute!

Zach, you do know there's a curfew?

You owe me a dare. That dare is the Dawn Challenge.

If I do it, you have to pretend to be sick so I get to be Romeo tomorrow. I'm not letting you take my role.

Thank you! We both do the challenge. Winner takes all.

You've already got Romeo. You win nothing.

Except victory.

They invaded my room. I'm an innocent bystander.

We both know that's never the case.

If you're holding a grudge over what happened last year...

Miss Raine asked me to keep an eye on you.

Every time you're allowed to cross the line it feeds the problem.

You're not even acknowledging I've changed?

I hope you have, because this is your final warning.

Any more stuff-ups and you're off the tour.

Last chance, Grace.

You said that already.

Rule one - all competitors must start nude, apart from your phone.

Rule two - each of you must acquire three items of clothing.

Finally, photograph yourself grabbing a coin from the Main Street fountain.

First one back without getting caught will go down in Academy folklore.

Dawn Challengers, are you ready?

Viva la tour!

Go!

Cheers, mate.

Let's get you some clothes so you can give Gilbert a rest.

Let's roll.

Credit card number 7509

6601.

I drowned my phone. Quick - grab a coin.

Hold still.

I'm not going to jail. I'm too pretty. I'll take one of you.

There's not time. I'm not leaving you.

I'm right behind you. Go.

I know where you live.

Morning, Barb. Officer. Is there a problem?

Apart from bylaw 735c - no dancing in the fountain, where's my trout?

Barb, you know I'm a fish lover.

This is all just a big misunderstanding.

Heels down! It's chasse, coupe, petit assemble.

Oi, you two - zip it! People are trying to work.

Hey, you are not the most important person on the planet.

You just have a walkie-talkie.

Excuse me? OK, they're annoying, but they've been here since 5am trying to get it right, because they're dancers, and that's what we do.

Apart from telling people when to eat, I have no idea what you're contributing. Kat?

A word.

I know. I'm sorry I'm a disaster.

I understand if you want to replace me.

Is something or someone making things difficult for you?

You're an invaluable part of this film, Jamie's not.

If you want him gone... No, no.

Jamie's fine. Prickly, but fine.

I understand.

You don't have to. I don't deserve Romeo anyway.

I left a soldier behind.

I'm sorry, Officer, and again, thank you for your time.

My wife called me this morning.

'Your family misses you, but you made a commitment to this tour.'

I ask, you don't listen. I thr*aten and you get arrested.

Tara, congratulations - you're going on for Juliet.

Zach, I'm sorry but, dodgy pizza.

Seriously?

Understudy, you across Romeo? Yeah.

You're now alternating.

My workload just skyrocketed.

Do you still want me as your soloist?

Absolutely. You strong, like ox.

Wow. You've really charmed everyone.

This is your real version of fun - att*ck, retreat, make them chase you.

But I'm a player from way back, so I win.

I'm not playing games. I meant it when I begged you to go back.

When the tour's over I will.

I really liked Abigail in Barcelona, but that's not you. Excuse me.

I'm not sure if this is what you meant.

Thanks.

You're not the only one who's new and feeling like a fraud.

Apparently they liked what I did yesterday.

Pity I have no idea what it was.

They saw 500 girls for the lead and they cast you, so maybe you run with that.

So you and Ben, that's actually a thing, is it?

Yeah.

Sorry. I'm just trying to get my head around it.

I didn't mean it before, about us not being friends.

That's OK.

Romeo and Juliet weren't friends.

A tragic fate befell that little girl.

For even though she tried so hard and changed so much, her shadow had followed her to the new home.

Cut!

I bet you won the challenge back in '93, hey, Zach?

Miss Raine will meet your bus.

It wasn't just Grace. I thought you were sick.

Grace made her choices.

You're sending me home?

Is your authority so tenuous, you need to make an example of Grace?

I didn't want this.

This tour won't be the same without me.

Don't pretend you don't love this.

You've been dying to get your mitts on Juliet.

So nothing really had changed at all, except...

Viva le tour!

Maybe one thing.